As his time on the Menifee City Council comes to an end, District 4 Councilman Dean Deines is reflecting on nearly eight years of service.
Before his time on the council, Deines spent seven years in the Army, earned a degree in computer science and went on to work for the Orange County Transit District. He later spent about 28 years with Riverside County, where he worked in finance, budgeting, debt administration and policy.
After retiring, Deines wasn’t planning to run for office. He said several people encouraged him to run for City Council, giving him the chance to put his government experience to work for the community.
“I’ve had all these years of experience in government,” Deines said. “This is my way of giving back to my community. I know how to run an efficient government.”
One of his biggest priorities was bringing more retail to District 4, an issue he said came up repeatedly while campaigning. Today, the McCall Square shopping center includes businesses such as Starbucks, Chipotle and 7-Eleven. A Stater Bros. grocery store is also under construction and will become the first grocery store serving the Heritage Lake community.
Deines said retail wasn’t just about giving District 4 residents more places to shop. It was also about generating sales tax revenue from travelers along Highway 74 and preserving commercial land for future businesses.
“It was a long process,” Deines said. “I got the ball rolling. It’ll be up to the next person to continue moving that forward.”
Veterans were another focus for Deines. He helped establish the city’s Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home event and the Military Veterans and Military Families Advisory Committee, noting that Menifee is home to a large veteran population.
Another priority for Deines was making sure the city remained financially sustainable over the long term. He said that meant maintaining enough diversity in businesses and housing to create a strong revenue base that could continue supporting city services during economic downturns.
One of the biggest challenges during Deines’ time on the council was helping establish the Menifee Police Department.
“It was a challenge to make sure it was done properly,” he said. “But it was a great reward for the community once it was up and running.”
As District 4 continued to grow, Deines said he also focused on improving roads, sidewalks and freeway access, including projects in the Romoland area and on the McCall interchange.
Deines said what he’ll remember most is watching Menifee grow.
“I’ve been very proud to serve,” he said. “It’s exciting to see our city grow and have the opportunity to be involved in it. I think that was the highlight of my time here, is to be part of Menifee as it grows into its own.”
When his council service ends, Deines plans to spend more time with his family and travel.
